Compared with levels in AKI-vehicle mice, plasma levels of angiopoietin-1 (Angpt1), angiopoietin-2 (Angpt2), vascular endothelial cell growth factor-C (VEGF-C), matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF1), FGF2, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), IGFBP-2, and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) had considerably increased in AKI-iEPC mice 2 days after injection (Fig. 5, Additional file 1: Figure S5). This evidence concerns the gene MMP9 and acute kidney injury.